Welcome to the weird and wacky world of British racing - where common sense has become a non-runner
Our deputy Ireland editor has his say on the most topical subject in racing
It was inevitable, wasn't it? The only certainty with the BHA stewards these days is uncertainty and, lo and behold, just a few days after Benvenuto Cellini was deemed a non-runner in the Derby, Wrist Art wasn't in a 0-50 classified stakes at Yarmouth worth £3,454 to the winner, despite rearing badly and losing all chance as the stalls opened. It was Benvenuto Cellini multiplied by a thousand.
Wrist Art's trainer, James Owen, was baffled by the decision, branding it "totally unfair" and adding that he was going to get in contact with the stewards to demand an explanation.
Owen would not have dreamed of getting in touch with them had Benvenuto Cellini not been given unfair preferential treatment at Epsom, but now he is and rightly so. Welcome to the weird and wacky world of British racing.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inDavid Jennings
Last updated
Copy- Half-pregnant Christophe Soumillon forced to hand over the Ballydoyle baton - and it couldn't be in safer hands
- There's no doubt that Joseph O'Brien is an exceptional talent - but now he has to make the hardest transition of all
- Is Aidan O'Brien a dreamer or a spoofer? Johnny Murtagh's amazing tale provides us with the emphatic answer
- David Jennings' 25 most exciting Flat horses this summer - including a 6-1 shot for Royal Ascot who could go off 6-4
- It's funny how courses can adapt when they really want to - now there's no excuse not to have shorter gaps between races
- Half-pregnant Christophe Soumillon forced to hand over the Ballydoyle baton - and it couldn't be in safer hands
- There's no doubt that Joseph O'Brien is an exceptional talent - but now he has to make the hardest transition of all
- Is Aidan O'Brien a dreamer or a spoofer? Johnny Murtagh's amazing tale provides us with the emphatic answer
- David Jennings' 25 most exciting Flat horses this summer - including a 6-1 shot for Royal Ascot who could go off 6-4
- It's funny how courses can adapt when they really want to - now there's no excuse not to have shorter gaps between races